Diana Long

Diana Long, MHC Class of 1975
Lifelong Learner Shares Her Gift with WV Workforce 

Diana Long took 18 hours each semester at Morris Harvey College, plus summer school, to graduate in three years.  This early dedication to her own education foreshadowed a lifelong commitment to the education of others.  A recognized leader in the field of workforce training, “Di” got her start at MHC.

A commuter student, Di remembers spending time between classes in the Riggleman Hall rotunda, and has fond memories of taking refuge in the chapel.  When asked about her favorite Morris Harvey professor, she replies without hesitation, “Pop Sawyer.”  Another favorite was Dr. Nunley, even though having to dissect white rats in his biology class was not her cup of tea.  “I cried every time I had to pull that rat out of the solution!”

In 1975, as now, students graduated from Morris Harvey “ready for the real world.”  Diana took her first job with RCA, developing curriculum for West Virginia schools, thrilled to be making $52.50 per day.  A lifelong learner, she soon earned a Masters in Technical and Adult Education from Marshall University.  From RCA, she took a job with the State of West Virginia, teaching career education part-time while she raised her son, Nathan.  The part-time job eventually became full-time, and in 1986, Di accepted a challenging role in the Kanawha County School system.  There, she settled into workforce development and worker training, which would become a lifelong calling.

By 1991, Ms. Long was Dr. Long, having earned a Doctorate in Educational Administration from West Virginia University.  After serving the Kanawha County Schools for many years, she joined the faculty of the community college at Marshall, and later developed a workforce training program for manufacturers at the Robert C. Byrd Institute.  Today she continues that work as the Workforce Development Coordinator for the Rahall Transportation Institute, where she works with Department of Highways engineers to make them better trainers of their employees.

An avid tennis player, Di has also taken up golf, which she deemed necessary to keep up with her husband, Bill McDavid, a Charleston attorney and member of the UC Board of Trustees.  As for the University today, she says, “It’s exciting, especially the pharmacy school, which is bringing in the students UC wants long-term.”

The University of Charleston is proud to have contributed to the education of this life-long learner who has made a career of sharing her gift for education with others.